23.07 Siberian research center to test HIV vaccine on volunteers

The State Research Center for Virology and Biotechnology, Vector, has successfully accomplished the development of a candidate HIV vaccine and obtained permission to test it on volunteers, the center's press service said on Friday.

Since 2008, the center located in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk has been carrying out a large amount of scientific research aimed at developing a HIV vaccine.

"This vaccine induces strong antibody response and the formed antibodies not only recognize HIV-1 antigens but can also neutralize the virus in vitro," the statement said.

The vaccine that Vector has developed is one of the strongest and most advanced vaccines in the world, the press service statement said.

The first phase of testing the vaccine on volunteers will be completed in 2010.

The total number of registered HIV cases in Russia since 1987 has already reached half a million.

NOVOSIBIRSK, June 23 (RIA Novosti)